2nd FUUUUUU brake-stomping e-break-yanking near miss in 2 days

[QuantumPion]

For the second time in two days I had some ass-hat in a SUV cut me off in a sudden swerving high speed lane change, and after realizing they nearly hit me, proceed to panic and slam on their brakes while inches in in front of me. The only way I avoided both collisions was by slamming on my breaks and pulling my e-brake, both times nearly losing control in traffic. It's a good thing I was 100% alert and hopped up on coffee both times otherwise both would have been high-speed rear-endings by me. Props to Ford for putting nice strong stock brakes on the mustang.

 

[JCH13]

For the second time in two days I had some ass-hat in a SUV cut me off in a sudden swerving high speed lane change, and after realizing they nearly hit me, proceed to panic and slam on their brakes while inches in in front of me. The only way I avoided both collisions was by slamming on my breaks and pulling my e-brake, both times nearly losing control in traffic. It's a good thing I was 100% alert and hopped up on coffee both times otherwise both would have been high-speed rear-endings by me. Props to Ford for putting nice strong stock brakes on the mustang.

Um, why are you pulling the e-brake?

 

[Lifted]

Um, why are you pulling the e-brake?

Cuz it was an emergency. :sneaky:

They really need to start teaching people about blind spots and looking over their shoulder before changing lanes. I've never seen a woman look over their shoulder to change lanes, and when I bring up blind spots, they're all "huuuuuh? wuzz dat?".

 

[manimal]

not sure if srs

 

[Meghan54]

You realize your so-called e-brake is a PARKING BRAKE, not an emergency brake. There's no need for an emergency brake on a modern vehicle as the brake system has dual circuit redundancy built in. (Both fronts and one side of the rear on one circuit, both fronts and the other side rear on the other circuit.)

 

[QuantumPion]

Yup, fully aware. Didn't really have time to think, wasn't stopping fast enough, it was hand brake or crash.

 

[Phanuel]

Most cars, the normal brakes are enough to exceed the friction co-efficient of the tires against the road. How is pulling the parking brake going to suddenly make you stop faster if you've already locked up your wheels? How shit-old is your car? Drum brakes on all 4 corners or something?

 

[JCH13]

Yup, fully aware. Didn't really have time to think, wasn't stopping fast enough, it was hand brake or crash.

You do realize that the hand brake acts on the regular brake pads, right? Unless you've got an air bubble or a leak in the rear hydraulic lines you're not going to improve your braking capabilities.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

What are you guys slow or something? He obviously gains much better braking capabilities once the e-brake is engaged and all fours lock up and OP is doing 360s down the interstate.

 

[QuantumPion]

Yup, fully aware. Didn't really have time to think, wasn't stopping fast enough, it was hand brake or crash.

You do realize that the hand brake acts on the regular brake pads, right? Unless you've got an air bubble or a leak in the rear hydraulic lines you're not going to improve your braking capabilities.

Why did you post this when the answer to your question is in the post you quoted?

 

[JCH13]

Why did you post this when the answer to your question is in the post you quoted?

My point is that you've got a defective braking system if you actually needed the hand brake to slow down faster. Especially if your normal brakes can't lock up or engage ABS on dry pavement. Get your brakes fixed.

 

[QuantumPion]

My point is that you've got a defective braking system if you actually needed the hand brake to slow down faster. Especially if your normal brakes can't lock up or engage ABS on dry pavement. Get your brakes fixed.

Actually what I need are new tires, mine are just about used up. But I get your point.

 

[Slacker]

As long as the tires are inflated to sidewall using the parking brake is fine.

(Note, some vehicles have separate systems for parking brakes, like rear discs with shoes for the parking brake)

 

[LTC8K6]

In my Jeep, the hand brake is actually a separate brake and is not related to the regular brakes. This is the case with many cars.

So it is actually an "extra" brake.

I don't know if it's the case with the OP's car.

Even so, the parking brake really does nothing much if you are already making a panic stop.

 

[JulesMaximus]

For the second time in two days I had some ass-hat in a SUV cut me off in a sudden swerving high speed lane change, and after realizing they nearly hit me, proceed to panic and slam on their brakes while inches in in front of me. The only way I avoided both collisions was by slamming on my breaks and pulling my e-brake, both times nearly losing control in traffic. It's a good thing I was 100% alert and hopped up on coffee both times otherwise both would have been high-speed rear-endings by me. Props to Ford for putting nice strong stock brakes on the mustang.

Well, that was really stupid. Why the hell would you use the parking brake at all during a panic stop? I'd get rid of that bad habit right away because that's a sure way to lose control of your car.

Even so, the parking brake really does nothing much if you are already making a panic stop.

Except maybe lock up both rear wheels causing a skid and loss of control.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Cuz it was an emergency. :sneaky:

They really need to start teaching people about blind spots and looking over their shoulder before changing lanes. I've never seen a woman look over their shoulder to change lanes, and when I bring up blind spots, they're all "huuuuuh? wuzz dat?".

But I thought the side view mirrors were so that I could see the side of my car...

 

[JCH13]

Actually what I need are new tires, mine are just about used up. But I get your point.

Well, adding more braking force to tires that have already exceeded their traction limit won't slow you down any faster. Bringing me back to my original point: hand brake won't slow you down faster.

Also, taking a hand off the wheel during an emergency maneuver is a bad idea.

The hand-brake might have made you feel like you were slowing down faster, but with a properly maintained braking system it shouldn't make a difference.

 

[LTC8K6]

Except maybe lock up both rear wheels causing a skid and loss of control.

Maybe, but I doubt it adds much braking effect at all.

Still, it's a bad idea to be doing it.

You have more important things to worry about in such a situation.

It probably stems from years of referring to it as an "emergency" brake rather than a parking brake.

 

[Lifted]

and after realizing they nearly hit me, proceed to panic and slam on their brakes while inches in in front of me.

wasn't stopping fast enough, it was hand brake or crash.

I'm trying imagine this scenario where somebody changes lanes in front of you, then slams on their brakes while being "inches" in front of you (out of panic?), and in that split second you slam on your brakes, then have the time to realize you're not slowing down fast enough and reach for the parking brake and pull that. All this happened in inches.

You must have just seen that same movie preview I did about the drug that makes you see everything happening at 1/100th normal time.

 

[Gillbot]

Um, why are you pulling the e-brake?

not sure if srs

because RACETROLL

 

[QuantumPion]

I'm trying imagine this scenario where somebody changes lanes in front of you, then slams on their brakes while being "inches" in front of you (out of panic?), and in that split second you slam on your brakes, then have the time to realize you're not slowing down fast enough and reach for the parking brake and pull that. All this happened in inches.

You must have just seen that same movie preview I did about the drug that makes you see everything happening at 1/100th normal time.

Inches was hyperbole. Have you ever been in an accident, or even had a close call on the highway before?

 

[ussfletcher]

Maybe, but I doubt it adds much braking effect at all.

Still, it's a bad idea to be doing it.

You have more important things to worry about in such a situation.

It probably stems from years of referring to it as an "emergency" brake rather than a parking brake.

Just because no one has explicitly pointed this out... when your tires are skidding, or locked up you have a much lower coefficient of friction that if your wheels are still rolling. This is the entire point of ABS, to keep the wheels rolling and not sliding. Thus if you were locking up your wheels with an e-brake, you are actually sabotaging your stopping efforts.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

lol dude you are getting shit thrown at you on each forum I've seen you post this on sorry

 

[LTC8K6]

I wonder what the effects of the park brake are on the abs and other systems that the abs is part of?

I wonder if the separate park brake has a different effect vs a park brake that uses the regular brakes?

Is it possible that the park brake disables the abs?

 

[Baked]

You're following too close. Slow down.